Trump picks Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, a once-fierce critic turned loyal ally, as his GOP running mate

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses former President Donald Trump's selection of Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election. It provides details on Vance's background, his relationship with Trump, and the potential impact of this pick on the Republican ticket.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Trump's Selection of J.D. Vance as Running Mate

1. What are the key details about Trump's selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate?

• Trump announced Vance as his pick for vice president on his Truth Social network as the Republican National Convention began in Milwaukee.
• Vance is the first millennial to join a major-party ticket, at a time when there are concerns about the advanced age of America's political leaders.
• Vance has become a staunch supporter of Trump's "Make America Great Again" agenda, despite being a critic of Trump in the past.
• The pick is expected to energize Trump's loyal base, as Vance has become a fixture on the conservative media circuit.
• However, the selection of two white men on the ticket may be a challenge for Trump's efforts to make inroads with Black and Latino voters.

2. What were Vance's initial views on Trump, and how did they change over time?

• During the early stages of Trump's political career, Vance was critical of him, calling Trump "a total fraud," "a moral disaster," and "America's Hitler."
• However, Vance later said he was proved wrong by Trump's performance in office and evolved into one of his most steadfast defenders.
• Vance said he believes Trump "changed the minds of a lot of Americans" and delivered "peace and prosperity."

3. What are some of Vance's key qualifications and background?

• Vance rose to national fame with the 2016 publication of his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," which detailed his hardscrabble childhood in Middletown, Ohio.
• He served in the Marine Corps, including in Iraq, and graduated from Ohio State University and Yale Law School.
• Vance was elected to the Senate in 2022 and has become one of the staunchest champions of Trump's agenda, particularly on trade, foreign policy, and immigration.

[02] Potential Implications of the Selection

1. How does the selection of Vance as running mate impact the Republican ticket?

• The pick is expected to energize Trump's loyal base, as Vance has become a fixture on the conservative media circuit.
• However, the selection of two white men on the ticket may be a challenge for Trump's efforts to make inroads with Black and Latino voters.
• Vance is largely untested in national politics and is joining the Trump ticket at an extraordinary moment in American history, with the attempted assassination of Trump at a rally shaking the campaign.

2. What are some of the concerns raised about Vance's views on the 2020 election?

• Vance has challenged the legitimacy of criminal prosecutions and civil verdicts against Trump and has questioned the results of the 2020 election.
• He has stated that, if he had been vice president on Jan. 6, 2021, he would have told states where Trump disputed Biden wins "that we needed to have multiple slates of electors, and I think the U.S. Congress should have fought over it from there."
• This has led to criticism from the Biden campaign, which accused Vance of being willing to "break the law and no matter the harm to the American people" to enable Trump's "extreme MAGA agenda."

3. How have Vance and Trump's relationship evolved over time?

• Vance's fame grew in tandem with Trump's rise, and the relationship between the two has been symbiotic.
• Vance initially criticized Trump but later shifted his tone and became one of Trump's most steadfast defenders, saying he was proved wrong by Trump's performance in office.
• Trump and Vance have developed a strong rapport, speaking on the phone regularly, and Trump has complimented Vance's looks, saying he reminded him of "a young Abraham Lincoln."